Adding Entity Metadata to a solution AFTER adding the table

[MattB_Motive]

Hi everyone

After adding the contact table into our unmanaged solution, we have found that the table's metadata is not in the solution when exported. When the table was originally added to the solution, we had selected 'include entity metadata' - but for whatever reason this hasn't worked. While this hasn't caused a major issue now, I want to avoid any issues with audit settings on the table in the future.

Is there a way to add the tables metadata to the solution after the table has been added?

If not, does the table need to be removed from the solution and readded along with all customisations? (Are there any pitfalls in doing so and what should be avoided?)

@LinnZawWin just wondering if there are any XrmToolBox tools that might have this functionality? For instance, is it possible to create a separate solution with just the table and metadata, and then use 'Solution Components Mover' to copy it into the original solution?

Thanks

Matt

[ChrisPiasecki · Accepted solution]

Hi @MattB_Motive,

I believe you can add entity metadata after the fact if you use the classic solution explorer.

• Go to your solution in the maker portal and click Switch to Classic.
• Expand entities, then select your table.
• Click Add Subcomponents to open the dialog. 
• Check the Include Entity Metadata option.
• Publish customizations in your solution. 

To validate that it worked:

• Export your solution and open the Solution.xml file
• Find the RootComponent element with type="1" and schemaName="<yourtablename>
• Verifty that the behaviour attribute has a value of 1 (means Entity Metadata was included). If it has a behavior of 2, that means metadata was excluded.

If that didn't work, I would probably try the solution components mover tool from XrmToolBox. First you can try moving just the table definitions with metadata included from a dummy solution to your main solution. If that doesn't work, then maybe try going the other direction by:

• adding the table definitions with metadata to the dummy solution
• then move all components from your main solution to the dummy solution.
• Then clear out all components from the main solution out.
• Move all components from dummy solution to main solution.
• Publish and Export out your solution and verify the metadata behavior value is 1 for the tables

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[MattB_Motive]

Hi @ChrisPiasecki 

Thanks for your response and suggestions. Just to follow up, your first suggestion (using classic solution explorer) did the trick without any problems. Validation of the solution.xml (as well as using CRM Solution Comparer from XrmToolBox) confirmed it.

I also tried using the Solution Component Mover to copy the table metadata from a dummy solution into the main solution. This also appeared to work without a problem.

Thanks again, while there are plenty of posts about the potential problems of not having the metadata included in a solution there aren't many suggestions on the best way to rectify the issue.

Matt

[ChrisPiasecki]

Awesome - - glad that worked for you!